Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen
Zeeland

My stepmother could be devious if she wanted to. I eyed her, wondering what she was up to. I didn't bother thinking about how she heard the news of Alyse's accident. News traveled fast. What I was more bothered about was the fact that she had never helped me before. We were enemies as far as the word went.

By the side, Jaslyn had a stunned look on her face, her body shaking slightly. 

“W-what are you talking about?” Jaslyn asked when she finally found her voice. Since that was exactly what I wanted to ask, I faced my stepmom, Darlene.

“Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about, Jaslyn. We should look after Alyse first. But once this is over, I have evidence of you implanting the grenade in the car.” Darlene said matter-of-factly.

At that point, Jaslyn's face was completely ashen. She opened her mouth but no words came out. She promptly snapped them shut and glared at Darlene.

“That’s a lie.” Jaslyn argued after a moment.

I glanced at Dmitri, and saw him looking at Jaslyn, his face grim.

“Jaslyn has no reason to cause an accident.” I countered. Darlene turned to her with a cold smile.

“You would say that. Why don't you watch the footage my dashcam captured, and tell me if you still have that thought.” Darlene retorted.

My heart skipped a beat, and I faced Jaslyn again, this time forcing myself to think logically. I knew if it turned out that 

Jaslyn caused the accident, I was going to destroy every bit of her- fake mate or not.

‘You wouldn't dare.’ Raven said icily.

‘Don’t tell me that you didn't hear what Darlene just said.’ I snapped.

‘Spare me the crap talk, Zeeland. We both know Darlene is insincere and would always be. Besides, our mate has no reason to get Alyse into an accident.’ Raven argued smoothly.

‘She’s not, and will never be our mate, Raven! Alyse is hospitalized because of her, so don't you dare tell me that I'm talking crap.’ I furiously said.

‘You’re acting irrationally, Zeeland. Our mate-’ He began saying, but I cut him off.

‘Don’t complete that sentence, Raven. Although there's no evidence yet, or rather -there is, but we haven't checked it out yet- Jaslyn will have every cause to regret.’ I swore.

‘And what reason does Jaslyn have to hurt Alyse?’ Raven asked in a lowered voice.

‘How did I end up with a dumb wolf like you? Of course she wants to get back at me for keeping her as my fake mate against her wish.’ I sneered, and looked at Jaslyn in a different light.

Since she wanted to get back at me so badly, I was going to make her life harder than it already was. But I wasn't going to start immediately. I still had time. Lots of time.

Raven didn't say anything else, and I rolled myself back inside the hospital, after telling my Beta to keep an eye on Jaslyn and my stepmother.

Fortunately, Alyse hadn't been badly hurt, and her werewolf genes were already helping her heal. But according to the doctor, she needed to rest.

My phone rang just then, and I whipped it out of my pocket.

“Alpha Zeeland,” I said.

“Hey, I heard about the accident,” Casxius voice came from the other end.

I heaved a sigh. “Yes, I'm afraid I won't be attending the competition this time.” I announced regretfully.

“Nonsense. Of course you will. I had a discussion with the other Alphas, and we've agreed to postpone the competition.” He told me. 

Relief washed over me. “That’s great. Thank you.” 

“No big deal. Alright then, Alpha Zeeland. Stay safe.” He said and hung up. I stared at the blank screen for some minutes, before finding my way to the VIP ward where Alyse was.

A nurse was in the room taking notes. She smiled at me and moved aside. “The doctor said she shouldn't be disturbed, so try not to make her talk much.” Then she went out of the room.

I watched her leave, then turned back to Alyse with a pained expression. I felt a sense of deja vu, and I didn't like it one bit. Right there in the ward, I could see myself staring at my parents mangled bodies through the doctor's eyes. Right there, I could smell the strong stench of their blood as they were rushed into the emergency ward. Right there, I could hear their pained screams and shouts as they forced me to get out of the car as their lives slipped out of them.

I shook my head as if doing so would erase the bitter memories I was trying so hard to bury. 

“Zeeland?” A weak voice called out, and successfully snapped me off the memory lane.

“Alyse,” Relieved, I rolled my wheelchair over to sit beside her. I looked at her closely.

“Where is Dmitri?” She asked me, her voice cracked a bit.

“Never mind. How're you feeling?” I questioned, taking her hand gently and wrapping mine over it.

“Like hell. I'm glad I'm not human though.” She forced a smile.

I didn't smile. She was right. If she was a human, the injuries would be more than what Alyse currently had. Thankfully, she wasn't.

“I’ll assign some guards to watch over your ward. I have some things to attend to at the Fort.” I stood up with a forced smile. I didn't want to delay finding out if Jaslyn did it or not. 

“Is everything okay? How about the competition?” Alyse asked with a pale and tired face.

I smoothed her hair with my hand. “Rest easy and allow your genes to help you heal.” I soothed her worries.

She nodded. “Sure will.”

Darlene had already left when a nurse pushed me out of the hospital. Dmitri was leaning against a pillar, while Jaslyn was seated on the floor, hugging herself. She pushed off the ground when she saw me come out, and came over to meet me with a desperate look.

“Surely, surely, you don't believe I did it, do you?” She asked, her eyes searching mine.

I pursed my lips. “We shall see about that. Take her to the car.” I ordered Dmitri. He nodded, and came over to grab her by the arm and over to the car. 

I longed to leap off my chair, hold her by the neck and force her to tell me the truth.

‘You seem so eager, why is that?’ Raven asked with a slight sneer.

‘You already know why.’ I retorted.

‘Oh, I do. You're always ready to believe the worst of Jaslyn. You need something to distract you from the feelings you're developing for her, isn't that it?’ Raven asked straightforwardly.

Stunned by his words, I couldn't respond.

‘At least you didn't call her our mate this time.’ I managed to say.

Jaslyn's hands were cuffed just like I ordered, and as we drove back home, I wished I could hear her thoughts, and spare myself the stress of checking out the evidence. Unfortunately, amongst all the powers werewolves possessed, hearing thoughts wasn't one of them.

“We’re here, Alpha.” Dmitri announced as we pulled into the driveway, and he parked carefully.

Aided by Dmitri, I sat on my wheelchair and pushed myself inside. Darlene was waiting in the first living room with a smile like always. If I didn't know her so much, I'd think she was a saint. But I knew too well that even if she was helping me now, she would want something in exchange. 

“How’s Alyse?” Darlene asked, briefly glancing at Jaslyn's cuffed hands and back at me.

“She’s fine.” I simply replied. “Where is it?” I added.

“Easy, Zeeland. There's no need to rush.” Darlene snapped her fingers.

I was losing my patience. “Darlene,” I prompted.

Snorting, she started toward the stairs. “Follow me.”

I nodded at Dmitri, and he firmly pushed Jaslyn in front before he helped me up the stairs. Darlene led us to an old but unused room in the Fort. It was where I used to play hide-and-seek with Alyse when we were younger, because the room was large and had many places to hide. It was my favorite as a child because of that.

A laptop was already set up on a table in the room, when we entered. Darlene sat in front, inserted a drive, and accessed it. I didn't even know I was holding my breath until the footage from Darlene's dashcam began playing. 

It was a bit blurry but it was clear all the same. There was no movement at first, before a figure walked past, and toward the red car in which the grenade had exploded. From the time on the footage, it was this morning, just before we set out for the competition.

The figure walked past again, looking around carefully. 

“Hold,” I told Darlene. She did just that. “Back a little. Yes, there.” 

The video froze on the part where the figure was looking around. Her facial features were clearer, and I heard a gasp beside me.

“How- how is this possible? I didn't do it, I swear!” A hysterical Jaslyn insisted beside me.” 

My face turned cold. “Then how do you explain this?” I gestured at the still frozen video.

It was Jaslyn in the video all right. Clear as day.